Azad Envisions Chenab Valley as a Self- Contained Tourist Destination: Seeks Support of People to Realize the Dream Srinagar, June 18 (KNS): Assuring to continue his efforts, with renewed vigour,to expand the avenues of tourism in the entire Chenab Valley, and revive its rich culture, the former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, Sh Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday urged people to give the befitting reply to the political parties in upcoming Assembly elections which are dividing people on religious lines. He said that he has throughout his political career, endeavoured to promote harmony in the society and work for all shades of people irrespective of caste, colour and creed. “My efforts to hasten the process of development in the State are well acknowledged by the intelligentsia and the people and I would persist with my vision of removing poverty and backwardness from the State the way I successfully attempted to eradicate polio from the country”, said Sh Azad According to a statement issued to KNS, Azad was speaking to the people in Bhadwerwah after inaugurating the ‘Bhaderwah Tourism Festival’- a tradition that was started by him as Chief Minister of the State. Sh Azad stated that Chenab Valley is known for captivating scenic splendour and rich cultural treasure and both these assets are to be showcased to the external world for opening the avenues of employment and growth. “I made a sincere effort as Chief Minister to promote the rich scenic and cultural treasure of Chenab Valley and, thankfully some success has been achieved in this direction. We have attracted lots of tourists to this region and even some of the popular tele-serials have been shot in Bhaderwah in recent years. Tourism Development Authority has been established at Kishtwar”, said Sh Azad. Recognizing the need to do more to convert the entire Chenab Valley into a self-contained tourism destination having the facilities of leisure, adventure and pilgrim tourism, Sh Azad said that if given an opportunity by the people, Congress Government will have a ‘master plan’ formulated for the entire Chenab Valley in the context of tourism development and get it implemented in a time-bound manner. Sh Azad said that we can have best summer golfing destination in Jammu province at Lal Draman in Doda and at the same time white water rafting, trekking and pilgrim tourism facilities can be created in Kishtwar. Sh Azad recalled that Kishtwar once used to be a hot trekking destination for foreigners due to its mesmerizing and world renowned treks found in Marwah, Warwan and Padder areas. “We have succeeded in getting a few tourism projects sanctioned for Lal Draman, Machail (padder) and Sinthan-Chattroo during the last financial year and I call upon the Tourism Minister to quicken the pace of execution of these projects, said Sh Azad adding that more sustained and coherent effort is required to big boost to tourist infrastructure building.As “son of the soil”, Sh Azad took some of the historic initiatives to open up Chenab Valley to tourism and other developmental activities, keeping in view the utter neglect that it was made to face during the previous decades. Sh Azad said that he has a vision for all the unexplored areas of the State and that he will try his utmost to give them a break, mentioning that it will open floodgates of employment for our youth in the tourism and hospitality industry. Azad also delved on the glorious cultural traditions of Chenab Valley and recollected the enormous contributions made by its poets, singers and artists, especially Rasa Javidani and Janbaaz Kishtwari. Urging the people of the region to promote the rich legacy of Rasa and Janbaaz, Sh Azad exuded confidence that Chenab Valley is producing a rich pool of talented youngsters who are winning laurels for this region and that the cultural future of this region remains bright. He was accompanied by the senior Congress leaders and Tourism Minster Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Minster for Public Health Engineering Sham Lal Sharma and Roads and Building Minster, Abdul Majid Wani besides PCC secretary Salman Nizami. The accompanying ministers speaking on the occasion, reposed complete faith in the leadership of Azad and stated that it was a privilege for them to receive his guidance in the past and they will be pleased to work under him in future as well. They acknowledged that Azad as Chief Minster revolutionized the developmental scene in state and raised the pitch that our State needs a similar thrust once again to let go off the gloom &frustration to carve out a glorious future for the youth of the State. The senior Congress leader also met people during his journey from Doda to Bhaderwah at Pranu, Malnie, Bhalla, Seri, Drudhu and Gatha. He assured them that his doors are open for all people irrespective of religion and caste. He thanked people for voting his party in the recently concluded parliamentary elections.
Posted on: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 16:07:40 +0000